Euchlaena mollisaria - Hodges#6730
Euchlaena mollisaria
This record describes Euchlaena mollisaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Determined by Bob Patterson. Genitalia:
Identification notes
Determined by Bob Patterson. Genitalia:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Angeronini
- Genus
- Euchlaena
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern California to Colorado, north to Montana and British Columbia. Syntype ♂ labeled "Colorado"
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period is May to September.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euchlaena mollisaria. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Euchlaena mollisaria - Hodges#6730 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Euchlaena mollisaria - Hodges#6730
What is Euchlaena mollisaria - Hodges#6730?
Euchlaena mollisaria - Hodges#6730 (Euchlaena mollisaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Euchlaena mollisaria - Hodges#6730?
Hulst (1886) listed a wingspan of 46 mm.
How do you identify Euchlaena mollisaria - Hodges#6730?
Determined by Bob Patterson. Genitalia:
Where is Euchlaena mollisaria - Hodges#6730 found?
Range: Southern California to Colorado, north to Montana and British Columbia. Syntype ♂ labeled Colorado
When is Euchlaena mollisaria - Hodges#6730 active?
Euchlaena mollisaria - Hodges#6730: seasonal activity - The main flight period is May to September..